5 Days Kilimanjaro Climb – Marangu route

5 DAYS | 4 nights: Marangu Route

The Marangu Route is also known as the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route. It is the easiest and shortest route to the summit. This is also the only route offers accommodation in huts at every point you spend your night with solar lights and comfortable beds. Bathrooms and running water are available at the two lower huts.

Day 0: Arrival

You will be picked up at Kilimanajaro Airport and drive to Moshi or Arusha for overnight Key’s Hotel or Charity Hotel

After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Marangu village and proceed to Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (45 minutes), register at Kilimanjaro National Park Authority offices and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara hut located at 9,000 ft / 2,740 m. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania.

In the morning around 8:30 a.m after breakfast starting trekking to Horombo hut. After about 1 hour, you will leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo hut. The view of Kibo summit and Mawenzi are both stunning and shinning in clear days. In most cases giant lobelias and grounsels are found on your way. Horombo hut is a point were most of the climbers uses it for acclimatization whereby they spend an extra day. Spending an extra day give a wide change for successful summit the roof of Africa.

In the morning after breakfast the trek will take us to the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heartland but then disappears into desert like structure. At Kibo you will have your dinner, take a nap and at the middle of the night around 23:30 hour prepare for summit climb.

Very early in the morning you will be awaken by your guide for a cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate with some snakes. After a warm up the commence start to the summit of Africa. The trek will take you to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim at 18,640 ft / 5,861 m (4-7 hours). Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa: 19,340 ft / 5,895 m (1-2 hours). You will need a flash light, camera, sun glass as well as warm layers as it gets to cold. While at the summit you will take your pictures and thereafter start trekking down to Kibo hut for breakfast and a rest before proceeding to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to Mandara Hut (2,700m / 8,858 ft), the first stopping place of the Marangu route. Continue descending through lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu (1,830 m / 6,004 ft). A vehicle will meet you at Marangu village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi or Moshi.